ONE HOT SUMMER 6

Will the monsoons ever come?

Will we see the water

rush and gush across the road?

Will the cracks

in the earth disappear?

Once more?

Yes, the monsoons will come

and we will see water

rushing and gushing

and filling the cracks.

But now it is summer,

and the snake and tarantula

sleep underground.

Now you and I shall hike.

Here is your backpack

and your water bottle.

All ready to go?

Walk slow.

Shhhhhh.

    Today is day six of my poems based on NOW IT IS WINTER written by Eileen Spinelli.
Only two days left to this tale. 
     Here is your poetry challenge for today.  Can you make a list of things you would say "Shhhh," to?  Can you write a poem about that?  Write a list poem, or pick one item and tell us about it.  How do you feel hen someone tells you to shhhh?  Have fun with writing your poem.

Children's Poetry is the owl that calls to me each night.

A LITTLE MONSTER

I have a little monster
who is helpful as can be.
Every where I travel
He is sure to follow me.

When I pick up my toys
and put them on the shelf,
he will always knock them off,
the helpful impish elf.

And when I tidy dresser drawers
before I push them in,
he strews the contents all around
and leaves them out again.

He steals homework from my backpack.
He pulls hangars from the closet rack.
He knocks down towers that I stack
I wish he'd leave and not come back.

This thug, this thief, this gangster,
my impish elfish, monster prankster.

Why I Haven't Written

Joy Acey, copyright 2014

I saw a seagull flying
over the sea
in his mouth a letter
he was winging to me.

In the wind he dropped the thing,
it couldn't get much wetter.
Now I'm forced to dry it out
so I can read your letter.

   I want to thank illustrator Bob Alley for showing me how to draw a sea gull with a letter for today's illustration.  He illustrated one of my poems in Highlight's High Five.
      Letter poems are fun to write because they let your imagination have fun.  You can try writing to a real person, but what happens if you write to an object?  Who is a favorite character from a book you've read or a movie you've seen?  Can you try writing a poem to someone today?  Have fun.

    Dear Wicked Witch of the West,
    I do not want to be you guest.
    So I'll regret this RSVP.
    I'm sorry I am not free.

    Dear Tinkerbell,
    Can you come for tea?
    How about Friday
    around about three? 

   Dear Backpack,
   I love your six zipper pulls.
   I'm sorry I stuff you
   much too full.
 

DON'T DO IT!

Do not step in a cement crack.
Do not step on a rusty tack.
Bad things will happen.

Do not sleep on a railroad track.
Do not sleep on a camel's back.
Bad things will happen.

Do not pet a moose's rack.
Do not pet a wooly yak.
Bad things will happen.

Do not poke holes in a gunnysack.
Do not poke holes in a backpack.
Bad things will happen. 

Do not feed a hungry humpback.
Do not feed a lean silverback.
Bad things will happen.

Instead ask for a do over
look in the grass for a four leaf clover
and wish for good things to happen.

   This is an easy poem for a group reading because of all the repetition.  You can add lots of verses to this poem because the rhyming family for ACK is pretty large.  Have fun trying to add verses to this poem.  You might want to use a rhyming dictionary for help with the rhyming words.  Or if this doesn't appeal to you try writing a poem about a bad thing happening.  Have fun writing.

MONDAY MORNING

I'm rushing around
fast as I can
Mom calls
one more time
I don't want 
to be
late.

I grab my backpack
zipper it shut
out the door,
didn't have time 
to make my bed.

I pick up the toast
glup three swigs
of orange juice
and rush out the door
to Dad's angry face
waiting in the running car.

I rush
dash to school
slide into my desk
just as the tardy bell rings.

"Get out your homework,"
and I unzip
my backpack before 
I put it down.

"Oh,no."
It's not there.
Knew I should have
packed my backpack
last night.

It's Monday,
and already
I've started off
on the wrong foot.

I hope this 
doesn't last all week.

     It really is hard and difficult being a kid.  Can you write a poem about one of the difficult things a kid faces?  What is your hardest problem?  I think mine is when I misspell words.  Have fun writing today.

First Day of School

I have paper and pencils
and new crayons too.
I have a new backpack.
It's color is blue.

I have a new notebook
that I think is cool.
I think I am ready
for the first day of school.

MONKEY IN MY BACKPACK

There's a monkey in my backpack
     and he's trying to get out.
There's a monkey in my backpack
     and he's wiggling all about.
There's a monkey in my backpack
    and he's jumping all about.
There's a monkey in my backpack.
    Can you hear him shout?
     LET ME OUT!


      This poem can be read in two voices with everyone joining together on the last line.  Young children can act out the jumping and wiggling.  Everyone can join together in shouting the last line.  Can you write your own poem today about what you put in your backpack?  Have fun.  Here's wishing you a GREAT weekend.

A Year

In September, I got a new blue backpack to start school.

In May, a wren built a nest in the planter outside my window.  I heard the birds sing.

In November, Grandma sent me a new pair of soft red mittens.  I lost them before the new year.

In June, I went swimming in the cold water of the lake.

In January, I didn't celebrate my birthday, the snow was too deep.

In August, Grandpa took me fishing, I caught my first fish.

In October, Daddy took a trip to Texas and brought me back a t-shirt.

In February, my younger sister stole $5 from Mom's purse to buy books at the book fair.

In July, I ate six ears of buttered corn at the Fourth of July picnic.

In March, the frogs croaking down by the creek were so loud they kept me awake.

In December, I got a bicycle for Christmas and was so happy.

In April, it was National Poetry Month when I wrote this poem.

     Here is another list poem based on the months of the year.  I've mixed up the months to keep the poem more interesting and less predictable.  What line do you think is the most interesting?  I've tried to include the five senses--smell is probably the weakest in this poem.  What would make a better line to feature smell?
    So here is your assignment.  Write 12 lines of poetry based on the 12 months of the year.  Try to include your five senses.  Make one line a negative line of something you didn't do or something that didn't happen.  If you have a sibling, make one line about something your sibling did or likes.  Do you have a pet, devote one line to your pet. Start by making a list of things you've done, seen, received--that sort of thing, and then pick some interesting ones to shape into your poem.  Have fun.  Please share your creations with me in the comments below, or at least share your most or least interesting line.  Write on.